Friday, September 12, 2014

Aurora

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I heard there were solar flares yesterday so kept my eye to the sky last night and was not disappointed.  Between 10pm and 11pm I stood outside with my camera at the ready on it’s tripod and I was rewarded with a few good shots.   The moon was just rising so I didn’t have a dark sky but it created a beautiful effect with the aurora.   While I was out in the dark I kept hearing noises in the bush so that was creeping me out until I heard a splash….it was just a beaver.   Then more noise in a tree so I shone my flashlight on it and suddenly saw something jump out of it into the next tree!  It was a flying squirrel!  I knew they were in our area but had never seen on before.   So it was a good night to be outside watching the aurora….especially with no bugs and not in the negative temperatures yet!

 

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Here they are over my Shack.

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Then over the house.  They got very active for a few minutes then just died out.

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Look to the sky tonight where you are and see if you can see them!   I’m hoping they will be good again tonight.

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23 comments:

  1. QuiltgalSeptember 12, 2014 at 8:03 AM

    How wonderful your pictures are, thank you for sharing them with us.

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  2. ColleenSeptember 12, 2014 at 8:50 AM

    Thank you for showing us your night skies. My son is living in Yellowknife and now that his evening skies are a little darker earlier he is hoping to be inspired by the aurora. Perhaps tonight!

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  3. T HolzerSeptember 12, 2014 at 8:52 AM

    Yes, very nice pictures. We had our first frost here last night. Have a good weekend.

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  4. HanneleSeptember 12, 2014 at 9:43 AM

    Wonderful pictures, thanks for sharing!

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  5. Teresa SilvaSeptember 12, 2014 at 10:50 AM

    Wow...these pictures are amazing. Thanks so much for sharing with us. You live in a beautiful place and I so enjoy your pictures.

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  6. rvquilterSeptember 12, 2014 at 11:04 AM

    Thank you for sharing your photos! Seeing the Aurora is at the top of my bucket list.
    could you share what camera you used and settings?

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    1. Kathy SchwartzSeptember 12, 2014 at 11:12 AM

      I have a Canon EOS Rebel T4i
      I used the Tv setting to so I could control how long I kept the apeture open. The pictures of the moon I kept it open for 10 seconds and for the rest I kept it open 20 to 25 seconds. Used a tripod for stability, the rest is pure luck!
      You also have to find your infinity focus before starting, so I focus my camera on a star and then took the pictures.
      Take off all filters as you can get a 'ring' effect from the lights in your pictures.
      I also used my timer, set at 2 seconds, so when I push the button to take the picture I don't case a distortion from that motion since the camera is on a tripod. I

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    2. rvquilterSeptember 12, 2014 at 2:27 PM

      Thanks So Much! I have that camera too!
      We have only seen the lights here in southern Ohio once, very faintly. There is a chance again tonight, but thinking we will have clouds :(

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  7. AudreySeptember 12, 2014 at 1:18 PM

    Beautiful job, Kathy. I missed them as I was asleep. I will try to see them this evening.

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  8. Sharon SSeptember 12, 2014 at 1:30 PM

    Thanks for sharing Kathy. Absolutely breathtaking! They are saying we might see them too here in Western Washington. I'm staying up for sure.

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  9. Donna quiltsSeptember 12, 2014 at 1:33 PM

    I heard that last night was to be a great night for seeing the lights, but I didn't get to see them. I'll try tonight and hope that they are as good. They are so spectacular.

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  10. SylviaSeptember 12, 2014 at 2:46 PM

    Gorgeous pictures! I'm jealous; seeing the aurora is on my bucket list, but not much chance of it where I live in the southern U.S. :(

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  11. MichelleSeptember 12, 2014 at 2:50 PM

    Fabulous pictures Kathy...too cold here right now to stand out :)

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  12. Linda RSeptember 12, 2014 at 7:50 PM

    Oh my.... GREAT pics ... tks so much for sharing. I especially like the one with the moon shining off the water. Totally cool.

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  13. DebbieSeptember 12, 2014 at 10:22 PM

    I had heard the aurora was especially active last night and tonight again but we have clouds!!! Great pics!

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  14. AgnesSeptember 13, 2014 at 8:56 AM

    I caught a glimpse of the moon rising, bright orange, and watched the clouds fade in. So much for the lights. Maybe tonight. Thanks for sharing the photos.

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  15. sherrySeptember 13, 2014 at 9:01 AM

    oh you did see some good lights… i got up several times last night but alas there were none visible here in central bc

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  16. Doodlebug GailSeptember 13, 2014 at 2:04 PM

    Wow - what beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing with all of us.

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  17. SueSeptember 13, 2014 at 6:02 PM

    Thanks for sharing. I hope one day to see these!

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  18. FionaSeptember 14, 2014 at 6:24 AM

    Love the photos. To see the lights is on my buckler list along with many of your readers. I don't even have twilight where I live in Australia. I hope you get to enjoy the warmer nights before winter arrives. Thank you for sharing

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  19. Alycia~QuiltygirlSeptember 14, 2014 at 5:58 PM

    WOW!!! Those are fabulous photos! Thank you for sharing!!

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  20. Tami @ Lemon Tree TalesSeptember 16, 2014 at 10:18 AM

    Awesome pictures! I've never seen these before but hope to one day. Of course I'll have to travel north but that would be fun too. :-)

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  21. LynetteSeptember 24, 2014 at 9:50 AM

    Neat pictures!! We were supposed to have had a chance of catching some of the lights that night here in Colorado, but the skies were densely overcast - so sad!

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